Horsham to Ely - 9th December.

With the planned FBU strike on the 9th, the Victoria to Eastbourne run has been moved to the 10th, so does anyone have any information on the fate of the Horsham to Ely run, also on the 9th? UKS still has it running to plan, and the SD web site makes no mention of any change that I can see.

 

no but the belmond victoria round trip is cancelled on the 9th

 

I think the BP has been cancelled for quite some time. I don't know if it's related to the strike, but there is a run on the 13th in any case. I still maintain that a steam train working in mid-December, after a very wet autumn with sodden ground and vegetation should not be classified as having a high fire risk!

 

The FBU strike is 0900 on the 9th until 0900 on the 10th so this trip can't operate on 10th unless the departure time is modified. More likely to have the steam section changed, be given a later date or cancelled

 

Outward times: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63409/2014/12/09/advanced
Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63410/2014/12/09/advanced

 

Cant see that happening

 

The return times are (a) timed for 75mph when it is booked for 60mph locos and (b) have no water or loco change stops....doesnt sound like steam?

 

Return timings look diesel to me... suggests the box will be along for the ride all day...

I wonder if...

applies ?

 

The return trip from Ely has always (or at least for some time) been advertised as being diesel from Peterborough to Horsham. Also, again, is this really an 'amber' fire alert period? You try setting fire to anything growing line-side in mid-December without using a flame-thrower!

 

I live along this route, the other day I had a mass fire in the garden... flames 4 ft high.. right into a conifier for 2 hours (I didnt look and set the fire before hand doh ! and it was a bit hot to move it)... not even leaf colour change on the tree it's that wet and muddy here nothing burns.

Separately, neither of the posted sets of timings go via Peterborough... its out via Stansted return via Letchworth.

Looking at RTT I dont see a LE/ECS towards Peterborough either, so either Damien the Diesel and Beelzebub the Box are front and rear all day, or the steam loco's are sitting it out in Ely ?

Doesnt look good.

 

Here's the ECS from Southall to Horsham...

timed 75mph.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63408/2014/12/09/advanced

RTT could be wrong... lets hope so.

 

Yep, the ECSs and both passenger legs are set for 75mph, with the return omitting Peterborough - no steam at all. What a ridiculously risk-averse farce!

 

on steam dreams website (timings page)...

 

An update thanks to 'uksteam'. <BJ>

Diesel: Horsham-Willesden-Ely-Peterborough and return[Now diesel hauled throughout due to FBU strike sction]

 

Still steam on their web site.RTC have performed better with the Sussex trip.Discounted standard sold out quickly.

 

Hey, a VINTAGE diesel. According to the note on the Timings page, as per ADB and a long number.

How about this one, it's got steam too!

 

I wish it was a vintage diesel... if a Warship / Western or Hymek was substituted I'd be all over it... any old loco class which is still in revenue earning service with a mainline operator is not Vintage.. it's just a Cheap Revenue Accumulating Profiteering box.

Oh for a pair of 25s on a railtour... my memories of pairs of 25's on rail tours is the most knackered sound on rails... and tours with them usually ended the same way as steam rail tours , if they showed up replacing a Black 5... i'm sure seats wouldnt be going to waste, even if it was a game of roulette as to how far the tour would make..

 

Yes - if the Christmas Sussex Belle could be moved back a day, why not the Horsham to Ely run? Admittedly it starts before the 0900 strike end time, but with only a small overlap in what are ultra-low risk conditions. The question is; why/how have the current conditions been classified as anything other than an insignificant risk of fire - who assesses this, and do they pay any attention to the actual conditions on the ground? If the risk of fire is classed as being insignificant, then the absence of fire fighters makes no difference to that risk level. NR's OTT risk-averse response needs to be challenged by operators, I think. BTW, with two EMU-related train fires/'spark shower events' in the last ten days, where is the ban on them running - after all, risk is risk, surely (and I'm being only partly facetious here)?